These treats have been a part of my Christmas long before I spent a year living in Sweden.  My Mum’s best friend Mary used to make them for us every year as children, when we would celebrate Lucia, piping our names onto hand sized hearts and turning them into Christmas decorations for the tree.  You can imagine the wonderful smell that a room would have with a fresh Christmas tree and these babies on them.  They are slightly chewy in texture and the spicy flavor make a perfect accompaniment to mulled wine, or even just a cup of coffee.

Since moving out of home, no matter where I’ve been in the world, I’ve made at least one batch a year just for the memories.   Really its as though Christmas cannot happen before I’ve been through the routine of making pepparkakor.  Fortunately I’m yet to meet someone who doesn’t like…